Lady Topper junior guard Josie Gilvin has had a career season.

In her first two years, Gilvin was primarily a spark off the bench, starting just 13 of the team’s 65 games. In those seasons, she averaged less than five points a game.  

This season, however, Gilvin has taken it to a whole other level putting up career numbers all across the board as a perennial starter. 

She is averaging 11.8 points per game which is best for fourth on the team. In conference play, Gilvin is averaging 12.4 points. Gilvin has scored in double figures in all but six conference games up to this point.

Not only is Gilvin having a career year in points, but also in rebounds leading the team with 5.7 a game. Head coach Greg Collins mentioned the importance of having guards in the paint grabbing boards. 

“We may not be the best rebounding team, but we just have to keep fighting and be better than we were, and there are other ways we can generate additional possessions, and Josie does that,” Collins said.

Going into WKU’s game against Middle Tennessee State on Feb. 15, Gilvin had not recorded a double-double in her collegiate career. In the loss to the Blue Raider, Gilvin walked away with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Since the MTSU game, she is averaging 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds recording three straight double-doubles.

Collins gave Gilvin her flowers in the weekly press conference talking about her growth in the past three seasons. 

“The one thing that has not changed since day one is Josie’s drive to win and that is just something she has in her…What she has done the last three years is continue work on her skill development,” Collins said. “She has continued to do that and this past spring and summer may of been her most intense workouts that she has done. That is why we are really seeing the fruits of her labor from the spring and the summer and now she is getting confident.” 

Sports Reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at [email protected].